Category Archives: Wildlife

Situated in Alwar district of Rajasthan, Sariska Tiger Reserve is stretched over an area of 866 km² comprising scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests. Recently, developed as the state’s wildlife destination, it is smoothly catching pace in the tourism circuit with the attractive landscapes and vast flora & fauna.

The tiger reserve is soon going to give a reason to wildlife enthusiasts to rejoice as Rajasthan government’s tourism department is planning to develop a new tourism circuit with Sarika and its nearby areas.

Image credits: Rajasthan Tourism Official

Beautiful places owned by RTDC at Sariska like Tiger Den and Siliserh, which have immense tourism potential due to their proximity to Delhi and Jaipur, have remained neglected due to several reasons. This year now, the tourism destination will be restored to its pristine glory and as a result, will boost the tourism potential of the entire state.

Tourism and wildlife go hand-in-hand at national parks, and very soon the travelers and wildlife enthusiasts visiting Rajasthan will get a chance to enjoy safaris in all the zones of Sariska Tiger Reserve.

The wildlife enthusiast in the city will now get the experience of watching the king of Jungle in wild with the opening of Lion Safari in Nahargarh Biological Park in Jaipur. A total number of 10 lions have shifter to the park from different parts of the country. The visitors will be able to sight three cubs named as Tejas, Tripur, and Taara roaming freely over an area of 36 hectares.

With this, Rajasthan’s wildlife tourism is going to see a major hike in terms of adventure and excitement. Tourists will enjoy sighting several other wild animals in the park during their safari. Very soon, chitals will also be released into the safari area.

According to the park officials, more vehicles will be introduced with the rise in the number of tourists in Lion safari. So this weekend, charge upon an adventurous wildlife safari and flaunt your selfies with the king of the jungle among your friends and relatives living outstation 😉

Whether it’s territorial clash between two grown up tigers or predatory pursuits or carcass gatherings of different animals, seasoned safaris in Ranthambhore National Park have notched up wildlife sightings we can’t imagine. Yet, if you ask us about that once-in-a-lifetime experience in the wild, it would be watching a mother tigress bringing her newborn cubs out in wilds just after 10 days. The T-84 (Machali Junior) gave birth to new cubs and they were first sighted in zone 2 of Ranthambhore Park on Thursday.

Image via Rajasthan Patrika

The mommy tigress in the rare image is showing the signs of recent birth. For the tigers, last few months of their pregnancy are a secret affair: they’ll usually isolate themselves to give birth in a sheltered, hidden spot, where the new arrivals are spirited away for the first four to six weeks of life. “Typically a big cat would move off on its own, give birth and only introduce her litters to open places when they are more capable of fending for themselves. But this is once in a lifetime experience. Currently, looking at the safety of the cubs, Tiger safari has been stopped at the national park.

But, be ready to witness more action as this summer will be exciting and full of frivolities of these young tigers as Ranthambhore’s Queen aka Arrow-Head will be seen roaming around with the new cubs.

Rajasthan’s historic district with religious values- Jhalawar is slowly and gradually making its mark in Eco-Tourism and wildlife. The traditionally rich land of Hadoti region is becoming a new Birding Hot Spot in Rajasthan and is attracting tourist from across the world. This year the Second Bird Festival of the District has been organized with Zeal and Enthusiasm along with collaboration of District Administration and Forest Department.

According to the Bird enthusiast Anil Rodgers, the Bird Festival has been organized in a wonderful manner and under the keen supervision of District Collector Dr. Jitendra Kumar Soni. The presence and participation of school and college student, wildlife research scholars, scientists, local bird and environment lovers, participants from Kota, Bundi, Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Bharatpur including many other District added to the charm of the festival. A world class Wildlife and Birding Photography Exhibition showing the true Wild colours of Hadoti along with a rare and exclusive stamp collection was also a part of the festival.

Jhalawar is replete with the rich avifaunal biodiversity, there are more than 250 local and migratory species recorded here. Including Bar Headed Geese, Greylag Geese, Ruddy Shelduck, Flamingoes, Northern Shovelor, Northern Pintail, Common Teal, Gadwal, Red Crested Pochard, TufftedPochard, White Eyed Pochard, Common Pochard, EurasionWegion, Pallas Gull, Black Tailed Godvit, Redshank, Green Shank and many other waders. Moreover, Jhalawar has active habitation of critically endangered long billed vultures, and White Rumped Vultures and you can also see rare Asian King Vulture (Sarcogypscalvus) and endangered Egyptian Vultures in Abundance. Wetlands of Jhalawar are big attraction to see the tallest flying bird, Sarus Cranes are breeding here in good numbers as well as you can see Painted storks, Whooly necked stork, Migratory Black Stork and Resident Black Necked Stork in the Gorges and Open Wetlands.

Besides these, Ancient Kolvi Caves, World Heritage Site Gagron Fort, Dalhanpur Ruins, Sun Temple, Chandrabhaga Temple are worth visiting places in Jhalawar. Enriched with old traditional values wouldn’t be able to miss the hospitality of the people of Jhalawar.

Ever wondered what life would be like in some other state than the one you’re currently living in? What if we told you that a grand festival is waiting in an old palace somewhere in the deserts of Rajasthan for you to truly witness what living in Rajasthan feels like?

It’s not just a bunch of turbans or camels we’re talking about. It’s about everything that makes Rajasthan the colourful and celebrated desert it is.

Ranthambhore Festival in the Nahargarh Palace of Ranthambhore has for you a three day carnival to get into the spirit of Rajasthan and admire the beauty of the state while closely experiencing the quintessence it is made of.

Imagine yourself in a palace, attending music concerts and watching documentaries, eating lavishly some regal supper, learning new art, talking to people from different countries, sitting under the stars and venturing into the forest nearby. Can’t get any better, right? Indulge in the collaboration of art, music, dance, food, cinematography, adventure and intellectual activities and shopping at the Ranthambhore Festival on the 19th, 20th and 21st of January.

The festival has activities enough for you to remain in awe of the exquisiteness of the humble state. A festival for you to experience, learn and take back with you the art of the state with activities like drum circle, folk instrument classes and performances, meditation and yoga, hot air ballooning, open mic, culinary venture, musical performances from around the globe, documentary screening, music and nature conservation, bicycle tour of Ranthambore’s environs, souk, mid-night star gazing session, traditional block printing workshop, pottery workshop and the most esteemed Royal Secret Supper.

If this doesn’t make you pack your bags right away, we don’t know what will.

Date-19, 20 and 21 January

Venue– Nahargarh Palace, Ranthambhore, Rajasthan.

Getting there- By Air

The closest airport is Jaipur, which is 160 kms from Nahargarh Palace, Ranthambore. Jaipur is well connected to all metros with daily flights operated by Indigo, Go Air, Jet Airways, and Indian Airlines. Once you land, you can take a prepaid airport taxi or a private taxi to Ranthambore. This will cost you approximately Rs 2500.

By Train (Recommended)

Sawai Madhopur station is only three kilometers (ten minutes drive) from Ranthambore and is well connected to almost every city in India by superfast trains, being the most important railway junction in Rajasthan.

Keoladeo National Park is one of the historical national park in India that welcomes thousands of tourists every year due to the attraction of migratory birds. The park offers a joyride on boat to the tourists so that they can enjoy watching birds from close. But not any more. Owing to the decreased level of water in the lake, tourists visiting Bharatpur’s Keoladeo National Park will not be able to enjoy boating, one of the main attractions at the sanctuary.

Image via HT

A World Heritage Site, the national park has been facing lack of water due successive scanty monsoon, hitting the breeding of local birds. The park has four boats joyrides in lake and for tourists to watch migratory birds that roost in the trees to the lake. Thousands of migratory birds from Europe, Siberia, China and Asia visit to park for nesting on the babool trees in every winter.

Birds, including painted stork that visit the park for nesting and breeding every year, have gone to other lakes due to shortage water, said park director Ajit Udhoi. Hence, looking at the sensitivity of the issue and scarcity of water, the officials have decided on keeping the boats at bay.

Kota’s Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) will be the first tiger reserve in the country offering both “wildlife safari” and “water safari” services to the tourists.

“Tourists visiting MHTR for wildlife safari will also get the option of boat ride in Chambal river from Jawahar Sagar sanctuary to Bhainsrodgarh sanctuary to get a glimpse of beauty of MHTR and Chambal valley,” said Om Birla, the BJP MP from Kota, after a visit to the park and interaction with its officials on Tuesday.

Chambal

MHTR is rich in flora and fauna with the perennial Chambal river flowing through it. There are around 60 panthers, 1,000 cheetal/sambhar deer, 60 bears, 1,000 wild boars and 500 blue bulls. However, there is no tiger in the park at present. Iinfrastructural projects are underway in the park ahead of the proposed release of tigers in it by March next year.

Birla said that ecotourism would start at the park after the release of tigers. “Water safari and wildlife safari will both boost ecotourism in the region and generate employment opportunities for people,” he added. The MP said that the water safari project, including the 25-km boat ride in the Chambal river, would be funded by the Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) of Kota.

Chambal

Informing about water safari plan at MHTR, SR Yadav, deputy conservator of forest, MHTR, said that wildlife safari and water safari services will be started only after the released tigers will get acclimatised with the new habitat, which may take some months.

A documentary film on MHTR will also be made for the first time, which will show the flora and fauna, heritage structures and aquatic life at MHTR. “The documentary film will be of around 5 to 10 minutes,” said Yadav.

MHTR was formed in 2013 by joining wildlife sanctuaries of Kota region including Dara wildlife sanctuary of Kota, Jawahar Sagar sanctuary of Bundi, Chambal Ghariyal sanctuary of Kota and Bundi districts and some forest blocks of Chittorgarh district. The park is spread in around 759.99 sqkm area including 417.17 sqkm of core area and around 342.82 sqkm of buffer area.